SHAKE 38 Explores Shakespeare’s Works Through Yoga, Fashion, and Film

The Monkey Lab Productions, consisting of students from Grand Center Arts Academy, performed text and self-choreographed fight scenes from "Coriolanus" in the Sun Theatre Courtyard as part of last year’s SHAKE 38 event. Photograph by J David Levy

With events ranging from A Midsummer Night’s Dream-themed fashion shoot to an extravagant “Lose Your Head” mixer based on Henry VIII, the fifth annual SHAKE 38 will once again serve up Shakespeare in weird and wonderful ways.

SFSTL Artistic and Executive Director Rick Dildine started the event in 2010 to bring together the creative forces in St. Louis. Dildine wanted to perform Shakespeare’s plays in new and innovative ways.

“I didn’t want Shakespeare to be elusive and frightening. I told the writers to adapt his plays however they saw fit,” he says.

In its first year, SHAKE 38 was a 38-hour event, with a new play debuting every hour on the hour. In the past five years, it has grown to become a 5-day festival in 38 different locations. The length of the event isn’t the only thing that has increased. The event started with about 200 participants, and has now grown to several hundred.

The performances at SHAKE 38 are constantly evolving. They range from musical acts to visual arts to traditional theater. They happen in a variety of places; street corners, coffee shops, anywhere. The performances vary in length as well. They can last up to a minute or the full duration of a Shakespearian play.

Some highlights of 2015’s SHAKE 38 include sunrise yoga inspired by Shakespeare’s Richard II on Wednesday, April 22, at 7:15 a.m. in the Missouri Botanical Gardens (4344 Shaw); a fashion photoshoot inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream Wednesday, April 22, at 7:30 p.m. at The Big Club Hall (5200 Shaw); wreath-laying at Shakespeare’s statue in honor of what would have been his 451 birthday on Thursday, April 23, at 10 a.m. in Tower Grove Park (4256 Magnolia); the debut of a social justice documentary, Meaure4Measure, on Friday, April 24, at 4 p.m. at SLU’s Xavier Hall (1 North Grand); a “Lose Your Head” party based on themes from Henry VIII and more on Saturday, April 25, at 9:30 p.m. at the Upstairs Gallery (2720 Cherokee); and a performance of King John on Sunday, April 26, at 11 a.m. in Forest Park (5715 Elizabeth).

The Measure4Measure documentary is a new component of SHAKE 38. Every year, a new medium of storytelling is added to the lineup, and this year it is video documentary. SHAKE 38 founder, Rick Dildine, is thrilled about the video project.

“Measure4Measure really encapsulates the spirit of SHAKE 38. People from all over the country are sending in videos for the documentary, which is really exciting,” says Dildine.

Festival Director of Community Engagement and Education, Jennifer Wintzer, is also excited about the documentary.

“Students needed an opportunity to talk about racism and inequality, and Measure4Measure provides them with that opportunity,” she says.

SHAKE 38 is a community-driven event, and every performance reiterates that: all performances rely on community involvement, with professionals from SFSTL assisting with marketing and providing any resources or support they might need.

“The Midsummer Night Dream fashion shoot is the perfect example of how we connect community members with professionals,” says Wintzer. “A local artist, Ben Kaplan, said he had studio space and wanted to do something for SHAKE 38 involving fashion, so we got him in contact with Shanara Gabrielle, a local actress who is also very interested in fashion.”

SHAKE 38 kicks off on April 22 and ends on April 26. For more information, visit shake38.com. For a schedule of events and more information about Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, visit sfstl.com, or call 314-531-9800.